What to Pack for a Road Trip on California's Pacific Coast Highway

IT’S ONE OF THE BEST AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS – THE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY.ALSO KNOWN AS ROUTE 1, OR PCH, IT RUNS NEARLY THE ENTIRE COAST OF CALIFORNIA.

FOOTWEAR IS CRUCIAL FOR OBVIOUS REASONS – YOU’RE GOING TO SEE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT YOU’LL WANT TO HOP OUT OF THE CAR AT A MOMENTS NOTICE JUST TO EXPLORE.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES TO STOP AND GET OFF THE BEATEN PATH. SO DON’T FORGET THOSE STURDY HIKING SHOES. OR YOU MIGHT SPEND THE DAY ON THE BEACH OR RELAX IN WINE COUNTRY. SO A PAIR OF FLATS AND A PAIR OF SANDALS WILL DEFINITELY COME IN HANDY.

THE TEMPERTAURE ON THE PCH CAN CHANGE DRASTICALLY. DRESS IN LAYERS SO YOU CAN ENJOY THE PICTURESQUE PHOTO OPPS ON WINDY LEDGES JUST AS MUCH AS THE OUTDOOR LUNCH WHEN THE SUN IS BEATING DOWN ON YOU.

YOU’LL NEED THREE PAIRS OF PANTS. PACK A PAIR FOR HIKING. OR SHORTS – THOSE WILL WORK TOO. JEANS – YOU CAN’T REALLY GO WRONG WITH THOSE. AND A PAIR OF LOOSE FITTING PANTS FOR THE BEACH OR JUST TO RELAX IN.

PACK A FEW VERSTAILE TOPS – LONG-SLEEVE FLEECE, SHORT-SLEEVE COTTON SHIRTS, AND A NICE SHIRT OR TWO IN CASE YOU VISIT SOME OF THOSE HIGHER-END RESTAURANTS.

ORY, YOU CAN JUST BALL UP A SIMPLE, FLOWY DRESS THAT YOU CAN THROW ON ANYTIME.

IF YOU’RE A PHOTO ENTHUSIAST HAVING A BASIC DSLR WITH A FEW LENS OPTIONS CAN STEP UP THE QUALITY OF YOUR SHOTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHOOTING IN THAT BEAUTIFUL CALIFORNIA LIGHT.

AND FOR ALL YOU INSTAGRAMMERS, USING YOUR SMARTPHONE IS ALSO A GOOD OPTION.

THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PULL OVER AND WHALE-WATCH BUT THEY CAN BE HARD TO SEE, SO DON’T FORGET THOSE BINOCULARS.

THE PCH IS FULL OF GREAT BEACHES SO YOU CAN STOPS TO SNOOZE ON A BLANKET, PLAY A GAME OF FRISBEE OR BUILD A BONFIRE DEPENDING ON THE BEACH. THE WINDY WEATHER MIGHT TRICK YOU INTO FEELING COOL, BUT THE SUN IS NO JOKE. SO PACK A HAT TO PROTECT YOU HEAD FROM THE WIND AND THE SUN.

WHAT’S A ROAD TRIP WITHOUT MUSIC? NOT MUCH! SO CREATE A LONG PLAYLIST BEFORE YOU SET OUT.

SERVICE CAN SPOTTY ON THE PCH, SO YOU SHOULD ALSO DOWNLOAD MAPS A HEAD OF TIME. AND IN CASE YOU LOSE BATTERY POWER IT’S SMART TO HAVE A REAL PAPER MAP ON HAND.

YOU CAN GO FOR A WHILE WITHOUT SEEING A PLACE TO STOP FOR FOOD OR GAS, SO PACK A COOLER WITH DRINKS AND SNACKS, WHICH ALSO MAKES FOR THE PERFECT BEACHSIDE PICNIC.

FINALLY, YOU’LL NEED PATIENCE. THE TRAFFIC CAN BE SLOW AND HEAVY IN SMALL TOWNS. AND BRING A SENSE OF ADVENTURE TO STOP AT RANDOM PULL OFFS. MANY OF THE MOST REWARDING VIEWS COME FROM THOSE UNPLANNED STOPS.

AND THAT’S IT! YOU’RE READY TO GO. HOP IN THE CAR AND HIT THE ROAD!

FOR MORE PACKING TIPS TO AWESOME DESTINATIONS CHECK OUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVEL.